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Trip from Newark, WI to Kenosha, WI

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

1h 55m

Distance

83.1 mi

134 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$13

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 26 min
4 AM
1h 47m ★
6 AM
1h 56m
8 AM
2h 13m
10 AM
2h 2m
12 PM
2h 0m
3 PM
2h 3m
5 PM
2h 12m
8 PM
1h 51m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Downtown Newark, WI, WI

Newark, WI

Tom Fisk

city in and county seat of Kenosha County, Wisconsin and part of the Chicago metropolitan area, known as Chicagoland

Kenosha, WI

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 82.1-mile drive from Newark, WI to Kenosha, WI is a straightforward, one-day trip, taking approximately 1 hour and 37 minutes. You'll primarily navigate using Highway 81 and West Liberty Avenue, with a brief section on 6th Street. The fuel cost is estimated at a budget-friendly $12, and with no designated stops, this journey offers flexibility. Given its short duration and the Midwest region's familiar landscape, it's an easy excursion without the need for an overnight stay. This route is ideal for a quick trip between two points within Wisconsin.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Midpoint

41.5 miles from Newark, WI

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 54m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 43 24.7 mi 26m
75th Street 13.9 mi 21m
State Highway 50 12.8 mi 18m
US 12 7.7 mi 8m
State Highway 81 5.3 mi 7m
West Liberty Avenue 4.6 mi 6m
East Hart Road 2.4 mi 4m
Geneva Road 2.3 mi 3m
Longest stretch: I 43 — 24.7 mi, about 26m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Newark, WI and Kenosha, WI.

1

Start on CTH K

1.0 mi · 1 min · County Road K
2

Turn left onto WI 81

5.3 mi · 7 min · State Highway 81
3

Continue on WI 81

4.6 mi · 6 min · West Liberty Avenue
4

Turn left onto 6th Street

0.5 mi · 1 min · 6th Street
5

Turn right onto Maple Avenue

0.2 mi · 35 sec · Maple Avenue
6

Continue on Henry Avenue

1.2 mi · 3 min · Henry Avenue
7

Continue on Shopiere Road

2.2 mi · 3 min · Shopiere Road
8

Turn right onto East Hart Road

2.2 mi · 3 min · East Hart Road
9

Enter roundabout onto CTH X

97 ft · 1 sec · East Hart Road
10

Continue on CTH X

0.1 mi · 11 sec · East Hart Road
11

Enter roundabout

163 ft · 2 sec
12

Continue

0.5 mi · 59 sec
13

Merge onto I 43

25 mi · 26 min · I 43
14

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 56 sec
Exit 27A Toward US 12 East: Lake Geneva Use the slight right lane.
15

Keep slight left at fork

0.4 mi · 55 sec
16

Merge onto US 12

7.7 mi · 8 min · US 12
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 48 sec
Exit 330B Toward WI 50 East: Kenosha Use the right lane.
18

Continue on WI 50; WI 120

10 mi · 14 min · State Highway 50
Use the straight lane.
19

Continue on WI 50; WI 83

2.3 mi · 3 min · Geneva Road
Use the straight lane.
20

Continue on WI 50

14 mi · 21 min · 75th Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
21

Continue on WI 50

2.5 mi · 4 min · State Highway 50
22

Continue on WI 50

355 ft · 8 sec · State Highway 50
23

Continue on WI 50

1.2 mi · 2 min · Roosevelt Road
24

Continue on WI 50

0.7 mi · 1 min · 63rd Street
25

Turn left onto WI 32

0.4 mi · 42 sec · Sheridan Road
26

Turn right onto 57th Street

307 ft · 18 sec · 57th Street
27

Turn left onto 8th Avenue

266 ft · 11 sec · 8th Avenue
28

Turn left onto 56th Street

109 ft · 9 sec · 56th Street
29

Arrive at destination

56th Street

Trip Plan

With a duration of under two hours, this drive from Newark to Kenosha offers ample flexibility for departure times. You can easily leave mid-morning to avoid early rush hour or depart later in the afternoon. Since the route is just 82.1 miles and has no specific stops programmed, consider packing snacks and drinks to maximize your time. Keep an eye on local traffic, especially as you approach Kenosha, as navigating through town on 6th Street can be busier. The estimated fuel cost of $12 makes this an economical choice for a quick hop within the state.

Morning Departure

Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.

Evening Departure

Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 41.5 miles from Newark, WI, or about 54m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 24.7 miles.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

Departure

Before you leave

Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.

First stop

Around 18 miles or 29m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 41.5 miles or 54m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 1h 34m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Kenosha, WI than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Newark, WI so your first major turns are already loaded.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Newark, WI

This is one driving day of about 83.1 miles and 1h 55m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from Newark, WI.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 43 for about 24.7 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Downtown Lyons, WI, WI

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Lyons, WI

42 mi into the route

Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset

This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.

Pacing Suggestions

Clinton, WI

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 18 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Delavan, WI

Meal break

The midpoint is around 41.5 miles from Newark, WI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 15

5 decision points cluster between mile 17.5 and 83 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

5
17.5 mi into trip | ~28m in

Enter roundabout

Roundabout - know your exit number before entering

7
42.7 mi into trip | ~56m in

Take the exit toward US 12 East: Lake Geneva

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Exit 27A Toward US 12 East: Lake Geneva
5
43.6 mi into trip | ~57m in | US 12

Merge onto US 12

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
51.3 mi into trip | ~1h 6m in

Take the exit toward WI 50 East: Kenosha

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane. Exit 330B Toward WI 50 East: Kenosha
5
83 mi into trip | ~1h 55m in | 8th Avenue

Turn left onto 8th Avenue

Navigation decision point

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$12.99 one way

$25.98 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 29 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $14.26 $28.53
premium $4.89 $15.99 $31.98
diesel $5.61 $18.35 $36.69

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$13

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$38–$63

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 29.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 24.9 0 $8.73 $3.99
Efficient EV 20.8 0 $7.27 $3.32
EV Truck/SUV 33.2 0 $11.63 $5.32

Gas CO2

29 kg

EV CO2

10 kg (66% less)

This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.

DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.

Travel Intel

Current conditions at both ends of the drive.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Newark, WI

Late night in Newark on Sunday

Local time

5:11 AM

CDT

Current temp

49°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Kenosha, WI

Late night in Kenosha on Sunday

Local time

5:11 AM

CDT

Current temp

58°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

47°F

Lyons, WI

42 mi in

Seasonal Notes

Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.

Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.

Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.

Time zone

Same local time

Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.

Temperature spread

9 degrees warmer at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

1h 55m on the road

Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

What kind of drive is this?

Expect a turn-heavy local drive on this route, with a 0% highway share. You won't encounter long, high-speed stretches; instead, anticipate navigating a series of local roads that require your attention. The drive progresses through distinct local road segments, with West Liberty Avenue and 6th Street forming key parts of the journey. This isn't a route for cruising at high speeds, but rather for a more engaged, local driving experience as you make your way across Wisconsin.

61% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
29 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 24.7 mi on I 43.

How Hard Is This Drive?

7/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 43 and 75th Street. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 17.5 miles in.

Driving Effort 7/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 83.1 miles you will encounter 15 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 17.5 miles: Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 42.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 43.6 miles (US 12): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.

About the Cities

Arriving in Kenosha, WI

Full guide →

Kenosha is Wisconsin's fourth largest city. It is in the state's southeast region. Many of its residents commute to jobs elsewhere, leading to its appellation as "Chicago's northernmost suburb."

City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 55m. Total distance: 83.1 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 55m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (61%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 24.7 miles on I 43. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Kenosha, WI before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.

Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.

The main spots that need attention: at 17.5 miles: Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 42.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 43.6 miles (US 12): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Kenosha, WI before heading back.

How this page is built

Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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